Canterbury

Canterbury's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Canterbury increased by 12%, from just over 135,000 to 151,000.

The addition of almost 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Canterbury was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Canterbury

Latest census data also show that the median age of Canterbury remained 39 years in the decade to 2011.

This city had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 6,200 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Canterbury are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Canterbury

Canterbury saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39%) people aged 16 and over in Canterbury said they were single, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 49% to 43%.

Across the region, only Portsmouth saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 36% to 44%).

During this period, Canterbury overtook Slough, Guildford and Runnymede to become the South East local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of single people.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Canterbury residents that were studying increased from 4.2% to 7.1% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 47% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.1%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. As a result, this area had the region’s highest proportion of students.

The percentage of students in Canterbury increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Canterbury, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Canterbury saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Canterbury said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 15% to 11%.

Across the region, Southampton saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 2.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 2.1% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Canterbury increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Canterbury, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Canterbury

The number of people in Canterbury that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 23,000 in 2001 to just over 43,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Canterbury that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 99,000 in 2001 to about 91,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 11,000 to just under 12,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.0% to 7.9%.

About 1,800 people (0.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 870 in 2001 (1.2%).

The population without a religion in Canterbury increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Canterbury

The percentage of Canterbury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.0% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Canterbury that rented privately increased from 13% to 20% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Canterbury households that owned their home decreased from 72% to 66%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Canterbury increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Canterbury, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Canterbury residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.9% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Canterbury decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Canterbury, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Canterbury, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 9.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had a married couple, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage of households in Canterbury, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Canterbury with children decreased from 27% to 26% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66%) households had no children, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of households in Canterbury with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.9% to 8.1%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Canterbury residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Canterbury remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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